Speculation about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg running for President is good for
the City, voters say 53 - 26 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Republican
voters say 64 - 19 percent that these presidential rumblings are good for New York, while
Democrats agree 49 - 30 percent and independent voters agree 59 - 20 percent.

New York City voters approve 73 -19 percent of the job Mayor Bloomberg is doing, just
short of his record 75 - 16 percent approval in a January 16 poll by the independent Quinnipiac
(KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

While a total of 56 percent of voters say it is "very likely" or "somewhat likely"
Bloomberg will run for President, only 34 percent say they "definitely" or "probably" would vote
for him, with 57 percent who say they "probably" or "definitely" won't vote for him.

Bloomberg's businessman's approach to government would help him in a national
campaign, New York City voters say 55 - 15 percent, with 25 percent who say it won't make a
difference. By a smaller 28 - 23 percent margin, voters say Bloomberg's independent lifestyle
will help him in a national presidential effort, with 41 percent who say it won't matter.

"New Yorkers like all that talk about Mayor Mike for President, but talk is cheap and
they're not ready to promote him out of City Hall," said Maurice Carroll, director of the
Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"While they give their Democrat/turned Republican/turned independent Mayor
consistently high approval ratings, New York City voters are deep blue when it comes to electing
a President."

"Bloomberg's 'businessman's approach' to government will play in Peoria, New Yorkers
think. They're less sure, but still positive, that the rest of the nation will like his 'independent life
style' - stuff like those weekend jet flights to Bermuda - that they're now familiar with. Mostly,
they think, it won't matter," Carroll added.

Only 24 percent of voters say Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum would be a good Mayor if
Bloomberg leaves office early. Another 40 percent say she would not be a good Mayor, with 36
percent undecided. Voters approve 40 - 17 percent of the job Gotbaum is doing. Approval
ratings for other New York City leaders are:

"Skepticism about Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum's probable performance as Mayor if
Bloomberg should leave has risen a bit since Quinnipiac University asked in May," Carroll said.

A total of 64 percent of New York City voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied"
with the way things are going in the City, while 35 percent are "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very
dissatisfied."

"It's a standard poll question - how are things going? - but it's an indication of how
people feel about their elected officials, and City Hall ought to be pleased with these numbers,"
Carroll said.

From July 18 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,194 New York City registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling his
job as Mayor?

10. There has been a lot of talk about the possibility that Mayor Bloomberg
might run for President. How likely do you think it is that he will run
for President? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely
at all?

TREND: There has been a lot of talk about the possibility that Mayor Bloomberg
might run for President. How likely do you think it is that he will run for
President? Very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not likely at all?

11. If Mayor Bloomberg ran for President as an independent, how likely is
it that you would vote for him?
Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote for him, probably not
vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?

TREND: If Mayor Bloomberg ran for President as an independent, how likely is it
that you would vote for him? Would you definitely vote for him, probably vote
for him, probably not vote for him, or definitely not vote for him?